Ikea to create 100 jobs in Dublin

Furniture retailer Ikea is to create 100 new jobs to help cope with customer demand since it opened its doors last month.

The jobs will initially be recruited on a temporary basis, with workers offered a two-month contract, but Ikea says they may become permanent positions if the current level of business is maintained.

The Swedish furniture store said an average of 15,500 people per day have been coming through its doors since it opened on July 27th. It  said its restaurant has served more than 137,000 meatballs in the past week.

The 31,800 sq metre store is expecting 2.75 million customers in its first year of trading, with a predicted turnover of about €100 million.

Manager of the Dublin store Garry Deakin said the company was pleased with the "exceptional consumer demand and feedback" following the opening.

Ikea is taking applications for the new jobs online, which will be in sales, services, logistics and Ikeafood services, between August 8th and 15th.

The Dublin store currently employs about 500 people. In April, some 4,000 people queued to get information on 280 entry-level jobs at the store when it held two open days at Ballymun Civic Centre.

The Ballymun store was first proposed five years ago, but was only granted planning permission in 2007, on the condition that M50 upgrade works were completed prior to opening its doors. The store was fitted out six months ago, but delays in completing the roadworks prevented it opening. The delays are believed to have cost Ikea some €70 million in revenue.

Ikea has 301 stores in 36 countries worldwide.